It's a 4 day week so I count my blessings, but by the time I get to Friday period 6, after a marathon 11 periods in a row, I feel like I've been run over by Kevin's largest dirt moving lorry. Teaching is not for the faint hearted, teaching English less so, and doing a full time job after being part time, even without a form class, is horrendously busy. I'm doing two new senior courses and haven't taught Year 9 for years so am scrambling to stay one day ahead of the kids. The difference between now and starting out is the experience under my belt. Gets me through. As does determination, 10 Mcc who go out of their way to be noisy and difficult and it's all I can do to keep my voice level at medium frustrated. I would otherwise swear. My saving grace, a classroom where I teach every class. Full time status means I get to set up in one space again. I'm enjoying getting out old photos and works of art from the past. I feel more in control and more grounded.
Unlike College Ave where the floors are shifting sands of boxes, furniture and clothes. It's one job at a time and don't get stressed trying to do more. It's not possible, Jillian. I finally understand the difference between unpacking and finishing off. It's the final stage of building. On Sunday, Auckland goes into Level 3 lockdown as 3 community cases in Papatoetoe come to light. There's frantic testing and we all wait to see whether the new UK version of the virus will spread. Down here, we go into Level 2 where there's little difference but staff meetings are zoom and the kids have to contact trace after breaks. And no meet and greet the teacher. Not sad about that cancellation.
I have a sore foot. A rogue bone out of place has been brewing over summer and when I go over on my ankle the right side of the foot shoots pain, all the time. I limp around feeling fragile. And slow. And frustrated. I make an appointment with an osteopath as he manipulated the bone last time, and it worked. Feels like there is also stretched tendons to settle. No difference over the week. I use light therapy, blue and orange, but it doesn't seem to help. I sit where I can while teaching.
Nicky gives me confusing advice about the walk in wardrobe- raising it so I can store shoes under the drawers, separating them so I can put two sets of bars between. I postpone Pete's installation and mull on it. In the end I keep things as is. I can't deal with complications. Pete agrees. I look longingly at the boxes of clothes on the floor.
The wind is cool at the beach but the water is pleasant. The outside air puts off casual swimmers. I decide not to go to Nostalgia fest, instead I visit Greg to organise framing. Better to have all pics in frames before I do any more hanging. I regret picking up two sacks of horse poo- job delegated to Kahu to dig into the compost. We finish dosing the Todds' wooden dresser with Metellex and turps and get the TV off the floor. I replace William Morris curtain samples with plain velvet and take Kahu's new car for the service Mark never gave it. Looking at Luke Anthony's website displaying his bird sculptures, I decide on a tui for the front entrance.
Thursday evening is spent packing the car for an epic drive to the Matukituki Valley, an hour beyond Wanaka, for cousin Jane's wedding. First I've been to in years and it's taking me back to mountains and bush. Auckland guests can attend as Auckland goes back to Level 2. Community Covid is contained. We all breathe a sigh of relief. Looks like we've dodged another Covid bullet. Our first Pfizer vaccines arrive and we start quality testing before embarking on vaccinating our most vulnerable and valuable... border workers. Fingers crossed this is the beginning of the end of our pandemic, but no-one is home free till there's no cases anywhere on earth, or outer space.
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